Tiradentes Day is a national holiday in Brazil celebrated on April 21. It marks the death anniversary of Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, known as Tiradentes, who was a leading member of the Brazilian independence movement Inconfidência Mineira.

Tiradentes was born on November 12, 1746. His parents were very poor and died when he was young. He was adopted by his godfather and raised by a tutor, who was a surgeon. Tiradentes had no formal education, but that did not stop him from working in dental medicine. This is how he got his nickname: Tiradentes means “tooth puller”.

When Tiradentes joined the military, he witnessed the exploitation of Brazilians by the Portuguese and colonial poverty. In 1788, he became the co-creator of a separatist movement known as Inconfidência Mineira (Minas Gerais Conspiracy). The conspirators wanted to establish an independent republic.

Tiradentes' plan was to overthrow the Portuguese colonial government in February 1789. However, a member of the group betrayed them. Tiradentes was arrested and put on trial. He was sentenced to death and hanged on April 21, 1792.

When Brazil became a republic in 1889, Tiradentes began to be regarded as a national hero, and the anniversary of his death was declared a national holiday.